Meeting notes

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This item adds $1,627,200 to the contract with Opticos Design, Inc., the consultant drafting the overhaul of Austin's land development code known as CodeNext. This portion of the contract covers the cost of producing the draft map showing proposed changes for various tracts, and the draft version of the CodeNext rules for adoption. This allocation brings the total spending to date with Opticos Design to $6,191,520.60.

This contract with Axon, formerly known as Taser International, provides up to $4 million for 724 body cameras for Austin police officers, as well as the software, cloud storage, maintenance and other support for the system. Equipping nearly all patrol officers with cameras would cost about $12 million; a rival bidder sued after the council approved such a contract with Taser International last year. This $4 million contract allows APD to buy some cameras now with a $750,000 grant that will disappear if no cameras are purchased by September.

Final vote passed

This passed on the consent agenda with Council Member Ellen Troxclair noting that she abstained.

The City Council temporarily waives city rules banning contact between potential vendors and city officials for contracts involving composting, recycling and solid waste collections. The move allows vendors to weigh in as a working group looks at policies for city waste contracts, following controversy over the council rejecting several staff-recommended contracts.

Final vote passed

A couple of industry representatives spoke against the item, arguing that it's unfair to allow companies to lobby and would hurt competition. Mayor Steve Adler responded that the measure is a temporary act to "get everybody at the table" to contribute as the city considers policies for future contracts.

The resolution directs city staff to make sure that bid documents for new terminal concessions at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport include a requirement to implement a labor peace agreement including, at minimum, a provision to prohibit boycotts and other service disruptions. The resolution comes ahead of an expected request for proposals to manage concessions in a terminal expansion expected to be open in 2019.

Final vote passed

Council Member Delia Garza, the resolution’s sponsor, teared up as she spoke of her support for union employees. Council member Ellen Troxclair raised concerns about the impact it could have on future businesses wanting to operate in the airport, especially small businesses without labor union experience. Council Member Greg Casar responded that most of the small stores and restaurants that operate at the airport are managed larger companies, which win the bid packages and then work with local businesses to fill them.